Movie review: In Coco,’ Disney/Pixar can even make the Day of the Dead heartwarming and funny

Thursday

Nov 16, 2017 at 6:35 PMNov 16, 2017 at 6:35 PM

The setting is Mexico, the time is now. Twelve-year-old Miguel (voice of Anthony Gonzalez) wants only to be a musician, to sing and play guitar like his hero, the late, great Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), once the biggest star in Mexico, both on concert stages and the big screen.

The setting is Mexico, the time is now. Twelve-year-old Miguel (voice of Anthony Gonzalez) wants only to be a musician, to sing and play guitar like his hero, the late, great Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), once the biggest star in Mexico, both on concert stages and the big screen.

But Miguel’s family wants him to become more interested in joining in their long line of being shoemakers. Sorry, no room for music. Actually, that second part has more to do with the fact that a long time ago, Miguel’s great great grandad walked out on his family to pursue his dream of being a musician. That’s when great great grandma put down the word: There will be no music in this house, and no one in the family will listen to music. And that’s how it’s been for decades, until Miguel came along.

Miguel doesn’t seem to be worried about the infamous demise of the famous de la Cruz. At the height of his stardom he had a run-in with a large stage prop and was crushed to death mid-concert. Hard to believe, but the flashback to that incident makes for a very funny scene.

Here in the present, everyone in town, including Miguel, but excluding everyone in his family, is excited about the upcoming music competition taking place on the annual celebration the Day of the Dead. Actually, there’s one other person who has no interest: Miguel’s great grandma Coco, who just sits around at home, appearing to be in early stages of dementia.

Really? This is a Disney/Pixar film? Day of the Dead? Dementia? Family problems? Sounds pretty dark. Yes, there are some serious issues going on here, but in that it is a Disney/ Pixar film, there’s no cause for concern. It’s also lighthearted, sometimes hilariously funny, and ideal entertainment for any age.

Intending to follow his dream, Miguel sneaks off to the tomb of his hero, Senor de la Cruz, and attempts to “borrow” the famous guitar that’s been buried with him. Signal the special effects department, because it’s the point in the film where things get really weird, where Miguel is transported into the spirit world – the Land of the Dead – where, although he’s very much alive, he’s able to mingle and converse with long-gone relatives, and he just might come face to face with his long-dead musical hero, who has become a very special star in this world, too.

The legend of the Day of the Dead as told here, involves photos and a bridge made of flowers. But it goes way past that premise and turns into the story of Miguel never wanting to give up his musical pursuit, yet at the same time trying to figure out a way to get back to the world of the living.

Accompanying this is a beautifully written, very complex story that’s filled with positive messages and sight gags left and right. Miguel has a goofy Mexican Cholo dog as a best friend to assist in that area. Then there’s Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal), who’s trying to contact his living relatives, but has the ticking clock of the remaining minutes of the Day of the Dead working against him. The catch for anyone in the Land of the Dead is that if no one in the living world puts up a picture of them on that day, or if everyone who’s still alive eventually forgets them, they vanish forever. Yet, in the midst of this segment of the story, Hector, like the Cholo dog, provides a lot of comic relief.

There’s also a cameo by the popular Mexican wrestler El Santo, and a running gag about the artist Frida Kahlo. You don’t get that kind of content in many animated films.

Being a creation of Disney/Pixar, the artwork, production design, and the physical look and movements of the characters is, of course, flawless, on par with the great storytelling. Life and death situations all head, in tandem, to a funny, dramatic, and exciting climax. And there’s not much doubt that viewers will be leaving theaters with a few happy tears still in their eyes.

Ed Symkus can be reached at esymkus@rcn.com.

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